Official SSA Data

Lawrence MA Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Massachusetts · SSA Region 01

Approval Rate

57.6%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

10 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

390 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,635

awaiting hearing

ALJs

6

active judges

Lawrence MA ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for FY 2025. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
Jonathan P Baird 71.5% 28.5% 61.3% 284 335
Timothy Belford 61.3% 38.7% 43.1% 413 473
Anthony Dziepak 53.9% 46.1% 48% 375 440
John Benson 52.3% 47.7% 44.2% 407 458
Alexander Klibaner 51.3% 48.7% 43.6% 39 51
Ellen P Bush 46.6% 53.4% 28.2% 174 182

About the Lawrence MA Social Security Hearing Office

The Lawrence MA hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Massachusetts. This office is in SSA Region 01 and currently has 6 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 57.6%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. This rate represents the aggregate of all judge decisions at the office and includes both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes. Judge approval rates at this office range from 46.6% to 71.5%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 10 months, which is longer than the national average of 8 months. Longer wait times can reflect higher caseload volume relative to available judges. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 390 days. There are currently 1,635 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 273 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 44.7%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.

How to Interpret Lawrence MA Hearing Office Data

Lawrence MA shows a moderate degree of variation across its bench, which is common among offices of this size. While all judges apply the same federal disability standards, differences in how they weigh medical evidence, vocational factors, and hearing testimony may contribute to varying outcomes.

With an average wait time of 10 months and 390 days average processing time, claimants at Lawrence MA can expect a total timeline of roughly 23 months from hearing request to decision. This longer-than-average wait underscores the importance of having complete medical evidence ready well before the hearing date.

Judges at Lawrence MA have collectively issued 1,692 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 282 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 39 to 413 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Lawrence MA Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Lawrence MA?
The average ALJ approval rate at Lawrence MA is 57.6% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 46.6% to 71.5%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 44.7%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
How many ALJs work at Lawrence MA?
The Lawrence MA office has 6 administrative law judges. Of these, 5 have issued 50 or more decisions in FY 2025. Decision counts range from 39 to 413 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Lawrence MA?
The current average wait time at Lawrence MA is 10 months. This is longer than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 390 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 23 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.
How is office data calculated?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
How often do judges at Lawrence MA issue fully favorable decisions?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Lawrence MA, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 44.7%.
Is Lawrence MA's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 3 hearing offices in Massachusetts, Lawrence MA ranks 2 of 3 with an approval rate of 57.6%. In terms of wait time, Lawrence MA ranks 2 of 3 (10 months). Visit the Massachusetts overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.